You've touched many points here, so I will take them one by one.
Connecting SN with a LN address is OPTIONAL. You can use just fine the SN cowboy credits. Is even better for a noob to start like that.
don’t really understand what Lightning is doing underneath it all.
IN SN case it just want users to have more control over what they pay and what they earn INSIDE SN. But again is not required. LN just help to have zaps easily.
Read these guides first and then come back with more specific questions:
You've touched many points here, so I will take them one by one.
IN SN case it just want users to have more control over what they pay and what they earn INSIDE SN. But again is not required. LN just help to have zaps easily.